BAO: ALTRUISM RUNS IN HIS BLOOD
By Segun Dipe
In Ekiti politics, titles come and go. What lasts is character. And in Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, Ekiti sees a leader whose politics is rooted in service, not self.
They call it “altruism” when a person puts others first without counting the cost. For BAO, it’s not a campaign word. It’s how he leads.
BAO’s is leadership that feels human. Watch how he governs and you notice the difference. No grandstanding. No humiliation of opponents. Just quiet, consistent work that reaches the people who need it most.
Civil servants get paid on time. Pensioners aren’t forgotten. Teachers, health workers, and farmers see their concerns treated as urgent, not inconvenient. That’s what happens when a leader sees office as a duty, not a reward.
BAO’s conduct is with a human face. Under his administration, Ekiti’s policies are designed around people, not headlines.
Primary health centres were upgraded so a mother in Ikere doesn’t have to travel to Ado for basic care. Farm roads were opened so a farmer in Ilejemeje can get produce to market before it spoils. Youth and women empowerment programmes were rolled out in every LGA, giving small grants, tools, and training to people who just needed a chance.
The Nigeria Civil Service Union didn’t give him “Best Governor of the Year” for slogans. They gave it for a record of putting workers’ welfare at the centre of governance.
Those who know his background say it’s no surprise. BAO comes from a lineage where service to community wasn’t optional. His father was a teacher and community leader. His approach to power reflects that upbringing: accessible, calm, and always willing to listen before deciding.
In a political climate where many leaders build walls, BAO builds bridges. He keeps an open door for civil society, labour, traditional rulers, and the opposition. Criticism doesn’t make him defensive. It makes him ask, “How do we fix it?”
This matters now. As Ekiti moves toward the next election cycle, voters face a simple choice: continue with a leader who governs for the collective good, or gamble on personalities who govern for themselves.
Altruism may not trend on social media the way controversy does. But it’s what keeps a state stable, a workforce motivated, and families hopeful about tomorrow.
For Ekiti, that’s the BAO story. Not perfect, but sincere. Not loud, but effective. A reminder that when altruism runs in a leader’s blood, the people feel it in their daily lives.
BAO again…for the people, with the people.
Segun Dipe is the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ekiti State.